Chain construction



Nov. 14, 1950 s. A. HOLMES 2,530,014

CHAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 17, 1947 7 UK I ,JTflJYoZmea INVENTOR BY /7 I I ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAIN CONSTRUCTION Samuel A. Holmes, Storm Lake, Iowa- Application December 17, 1947, Serial No. 792,233

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to chain construction, and particularly to heavy-duty chains, the primary object of the invention being to provide a chain made up of a plurality of links which may be readily and easily opened and new links psitioned, when a link becomes worn or damaged to the extent of inoperativeness.

An important object of the invention is to provide links including open sections and yieldable tongues disposed adjacent to the open sections, the tongues adapted to be bent over the open sections, to lock the adjacent link section thereto, the tongues being of a construction to be readily opened, when it is desired to repair the chain.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of a chain section, constructed of a plurality of links, providing the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the links.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the chain is made up of a plurality of links, each link embodying side bars 5, and end bars 6 and a curved end section I, the curved section 7 having a space 8 to permit the bars 6 of the adjacent link to be positioned therein. Secured to each link, adjacent to the open side thereof, are fingers 9, which are spaced apart, the fingers extending to points adjacent to the inner edges of the bars of the adjacent link, so that when the links are secured together, and the tongues 9 are bent thereover, in a manner as shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the opening 8 will be closed to lock the chain links together against displacement under the strain to which chains are subjected in heavy duty.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a chain made u of a plurality of links which may be readily and easily removed or replaced when a link becomes worn or otherwise rendered inoperative.

It will also be seen that due to the construction, the links will be securely held against twisting or lateral movement while in operation, to cause the chain to kink and become damaged under the strain to which it is subjected.

When the links are positioned in the construction of a chain, the end bar of one link is positioned within the curved section or bearing 7 of the adjacent link, and the tongues are then hammered to the positions as shown by Figure 2, substantially closing the openings of the bearings to prevent displacement of one link with respect to the adjacent link.

What is claimed is:

A chain link comprising side bars and end bars connecting the side bars, a curved end section extending from one of the end bars, the free edge thereof being spaced from the bar of which it forms a part, providing an open bearing in which an end bar of a link is pivotally held in forming a chain, and malleable tongues integrally secured to the end bar adjacent to the curved end section at one of their respective ends, said tongues overlying the open bearing in spaced relation therewith and said tongues being bendable into engagement with the curved end section closing the major portion of the open bearing, securing adjacent links together.

SAMUEL A. HOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,612 Vinson Dec. 22, 1891 672,774 Jacobus Apr. 23, 1901 1,184,266 Prindle May 23, 1916 1,555,577 Horner Sept. 29, 1925 

